[center][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/HlySd/Cool%20Text%20-%20The%20Black%20Knight%20178765871916502_zpsmieus9nl.png[/img][/center] [center][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/HlySd/BKAVy2%20copy_zps0dhtafmf.png[/img][/center] [hr] [center][h2][color=a36209]Location: 1x1[/color][/h2][/center] [center][color=a36209][b]Interacting With:[/b][/color] Open[/center] [hr] [i]Wrrr, [b]thump[/b], wrrr, [b]thump[/b], wrrr, [b]thump[/b]…[/i] were the rhythmic sounds of a quadrupedal bot creeping toward the blockade of Peacekeeper Units. It’s lamp was waving over the streets and alleys to its left and right like a fourth eye scanning them for traces of life. Its crab-like legs moved like pistons, cracking the asphalt with their every fall. Three red orbs were focused on the blockade ahead of it and the heat signatures that littered it. Its round head seemed to revolve, tilting left and right, and its eyes swiveling as though the machine was constantly processing new information and actively scanning their position. [color=82ca9d]“Everyone hold your fire until directed otherwise,”[/color] the platoon leader instructed. [color=82ca9d]“It may be a bot, but they have proven to be rather sentient. I don’t think it’s dumb enough to take us on alone.”[/color] The vanguard suddenly stopped as its lamp flicked in the direction of a parked hover vehicle. As the white light poured in through the windows, the Peacekeepers were able to see a young woman peeking through the window at the colossal machine. The soldiers’ faces paled in dread. The platoon leader turned to his team and exclaimed: [color=82ca9d]“I thought you evacuated everyone out of the sector!”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“She was hiding, Sir. We must have not seen her!”[/color] one of his soldiers replied. The pupils of her brown eyes shrank against the blinding light. Tears spilled down her cheeks and a terrified whimper left her quivering lips. Out of pure fear, she screamed and the vanguard turned from the Peacekeeper units to the vehicle. A young private was tense with fear and concern as he watched the KBot target the vehicle. He abruptly stood from behind the blockade with his rifle. [color=82ca9d]“Private Jacobs, stand down!”[/color] the platoon leader ordered. [color=fdc68a]“We can’t leave her to get killed!”[/color] PVT Jacobs growled before he recklessly jumped the cement barricade. [color=82ca9d]“Private Jacobs!”[/color] the platoon leader furiously screamed after him. The vanguard was impaling the vehicle with its massive forelegs. The civilian within had quickly fled to the other side of the vehicle and was able to dump out of the car onto the sidewalk before the KBot could completely crush it beneath its bulk. Screaming, she pushed off the ground to her feet and made an aimless break for it. Unfortunately, in the wrong direction away from the Peacekeeper Forces, making them groan on the inside. The vanguard turned toward the fleeing girl and before it could sprint after her, PVT Jacobs started firing burst rounds at the bot. When the vanguard whirled around to cast its swiveling red eyes on the soldier, PVT Jacobs stopped, his eyes growing wide in panic as he immediately realized that he was isolated from his team. The KBot took advantage of the opportunity as its legs rapidly marched over to the private. Several soldiers motioned to shoot, but the platoon leader quickly ordered, [color=82ca9d]“Hold your fire! You might shoot him!”[/color] Shit! Why didn’t he listen? The vanguard had been more interested in them from the start. It saw them as the greater threat to its existence and here it was about to take one of their numbers. The platoon leader raised his rifle and peered through the scope taking precise shots at the vanguard's round head. The KBot didn’t seem at all bothered as it engrossed itself in trying to crush the soldier beneath its feet. PVT Jacob was breathing erratically as he fell, crawled, rolled, and dove out from beneath the machine’s legs that bit into the earth like spears. He was lucky to be alive, but he knew it wouldn’t last. All it took was for one slip up and the machine would crush him. A few shots deflected off the machine’s face to spark against the street nearly hitting PVT Jacobs. [color=82ca9d]“Damn it!”[/color] the platoon leader roared as he near threw his rifle on the ground in his frustration. He had to get his soldier back. It was suicide. He knew that he was going to risk the machine, but what kind of leader would he be to just let his man die? The soldiers were shocked when they watched their commanding officer jump the barricade next. [color=7ea7d8]“Sir!”[/color] they cried. The vanguard stopped trying to crush the soldier. Its tri-eyes immediately focusing on the lieutenant. The platoon leader tensed in fear as he felt the machine’s gaze. Opening fire on the machine, the KBot abandoned its interest in the private to charge the officer. The A.I. knew that the pawns were unimportant. To take out the team, it targeted the leaders in their most vulnerable positions. [color=82ca9d]“You want me? Come and get me!”[/color] the lieutenant screamed as he continued to pepper the bot’s face with burst shells. Private Jacobs panting and on his knees, gazed upon his platoon leader in horror. [color=fdc68a]“NOOO~!”[/color] [color=82ca9d]“RAAAH~!”[/color] the officer screamed as his life flashed before his eyes. In that moment, PVT Jacobs's eyes rose to see the underbelly of a great animal soaring over his head. The black equine landed in front of him before it leaped into the air once more, thick black hair and mane waving like a banner. Its mighty horn lead the way as it passed over the vanguard and landed on the machine’s back. Chains shot down from the armored rider on its back, piercing the android’s joints with its claws. The lieutenant collapsed back on his rear when the vanguard’s mantis-like claws halted a foot above him. Immediately, he crawled backwards out from under the machine. PVT Jacobs rushed toward him, and together, the soldiers retreated back behind the barricade. [i]Wrrr! Wrr! Wrr![/i] The machine wildly whirred as it tried to move its great arms. [color=7ea7d8]“Who is that?”[/color] a soldier questioned. The platoon leader returned to his position, his heart still racing as he gazed upon what appeared to be a mounted knight on the vanguard’s back. His black eldritch helm burned with green fire through the eye sockets and mouth. The helm’s black mane seemed to ripple as though every follicle were alive. The helm resembled the skull of a devil that had once been, baring lengthy bull-like horns. The knights gauntleted hands grasped the chains and the dark unicorn started to walk back down the vanguard’s backside. The long hair that draped its large hooves swayed and swished to its movements as the horse flared its nostrils and bore its yellowed and jagged teeth against its bit. As the black knight drew back on the chains, the KBot’s arms rose higher, lifting it and exposing its belly. The platoon leader immediately noticed this. [color=82ca9d]“FIRE!”[/color] Rifle and machine gun fire started to rapidly pelt the android’s belly and the creature emitted an eerie scream as though it had actually felt pain. [color=ed1c24][i]REEEEE~![/i][/color] Chunks and shards of metal started to break off its armored carapace to clatter to the floor. Its body sparked and head and eyes started twitching and shaking as its processors started to freeze and shut down. When the dark unicorn was back on the ground, the knight retracted his chains and like a reel they snapped back to his sides. The KBot’s body struck the street with a thunderous [i]thoom![/i] shattering it beneath itself. Its legs kicked and scraped at the ground and its head continued to jerk in its death throes. The machine had been too stubborn to be brought down so easily. In its broken and malfunctioning state, it started to crawl toward the barricade. Legs twitching and shakily biting into the street, it pulled itself, dragging its hind legs. The Black Knight dismounted from his steed and reached a hand behind his head to grasp the hilt of his short sword. The sword hissed and ominously sang as he drew it free, lowering it to his right side. Throwing his weight forward, he broke into a starting sprint before he launched into the air. The armored man spiraled over the back of the KBot before he dropped before its red eyes, plunging his short sword through its dome-like head. Electricity sparked around the black sword as its eyes swiveled and soon the lights faded from them. The machine slumped over, morphing into the pile of junk it was. The black knight rose off a knee to return to his feet, sliding his sword out from the vanguard’s skull. There hadn’t been any blood as he would have liked, but he knew that he was dealing with a unique enemy. The lieutenant suspiciously eyed the knight. [color=82ca9d]“Who are you? You saved my life and the life of my soldier. I am in your debt.”[/color] [color=a0410d][i]You were in my way,[/i][/color] was all the Black Knight said. His voice left his helm on a ghostly echo. The platoon leader blinked. [color=82ca9d]“We are the Peacekeeping Force here in the city. We can’t afford to allow any of those machines to get passed this barricade. We could use your help.”[/color] The Black Knight had walked around the inactive husk of the KBOT and raised his boot before he Spartan-kicked the dead machine toward the barricade. The pile of metal sparked, squealed, and slid until it bumped into the cement wall of the barricade. [color=a0410d]“Add that to your pathetic wall and stay the hell out of my way.”[/color] The platoon leader glanced at the KBot that had just become a part of their defense. It was a good idea, but he wasn’t going to tell the knight that. He merely frowned. Did he really think he could do this job alone? Whatever. The officer looked to his men. [color=82ca9d]“Send up a SPOTREP and give me an ACE Report pronto!”[/color] he ordered, resuming his duties.